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Author: Antonio Aloisi, Associate Professor of European and comparative Labour Law, IE University
Original article: https://theconversation.com/the-eus-twin-green-and-digital-transitions-a-policy-revolution-or-just-euro-jargon-250459
In the portfolio of Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, Executive Vice-President for a “Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition”, the EU’s future is envisioned as a synergy of ecological sustainability, technological innovation and social justice.
Too good to be true? Not necessarily. The rationale underpinning this trio aims to address challenges and harness opportunities in modern society, which is being significantly disrupted by geopolitical tensions, digital automation (along with its associated anxieties), and the climate crisis.
While the need for the green and digital transitions is undeniable, bundling them together (“twinning”, to borrow an EU watchword) makes it very hard to dispel uncertainties.
Central questions remain. How can policymakers ensure that these transitions are just, mutually reinforcing, and create a future that benefits everyone? Does this integration offer real value, or is it just rhetorical hot air? Is the EU in a position to spearhead the creation of a new, sustainable model of development?
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Twin transitions, or just siblings?
The term “just transition” was acknowledged in the preamble of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which highlighted “the imperatives of a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs”. It was reiterated in the 2023 International Labour Conference, and is now gaining traction in academia too.
In the EU, the “twin” green and digital transition was presented as a central priority in the 2020 Commission Work Programme. While a cursory web search reveals that the term has been in use for at least the past decade, it remains unclear whether it refers to two simultaneous processes, or a more synergistic relationship between them.
The word “twin” evokes the idea that the green and digital transitions, while distinct, share notable similarities. For the average European citizen, this is most evident in the workplace.
Digital transformations are creating thousands of new jobs, and they are also rapidly changing how we work – they streamline existing processes, and are automating many hitherto manual or cognitive tasks. Similarly, environmental initiatives are driving demand for new skills and jobs in green industries while rendering some old practices obsolete (such as coal mining and fossil fuel extraction).
Both areas are also not without dangers. These transitions run the risk of exacerbating or entrenching geographical, gender-based, and sectoral inequalities.
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There are differences too. Just like fraternal twins who may not look alike, these transitions have distinct characteristics that set them apart.
At the core, each transition is driven by very different forces. The green transition is predominantly led by governments and supranational institutions, with specific environmental targets and aims to reform societal norms and industrial practices. In contrast, the digital transition is mainly steered by the private sector, although it is also supported by public efforts and incentives.
Another key difference lies in their objectives. The green transition challenges citizens and businesses to rethink or reduce consumption, and thus presents a challenge to consumerist, growth-driven economics. However, the digital transition pulls in the opposite direction – it demands the production of new devices and technologies in order to boost efficiency within the confines of our current economic model.
They are also running at different speeds. The green transition’s progress has also been slow, hampered by resistance, pushback and ideological opposition. Meanwhile, the digital shift moves swiftly, propelled as it is by market forces.
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Are the transitions compatible?
The debate over their compatibility is even richer. Many see the digital transition as potentially vital for achieving net-zero goals, but some experts have highlighted that it is “neither automatic nor self-evident” that the twin transition will allow us to pursue sustainability while also protecting workers and creating quality jobs.
Examples abound. Some environmental goals will mean scaling down the use and production of technology, potentially slowing digital progress in various sectors. Green initiatives might also curb economic growth in sectors such as energy, manufacturing and agriculture, mainly impacting blue-collar jobs, while efforts to redistribute wealth to alleviate economic disparities could divert funding from environmental investments.
The environment itself is also a factor. Digital tools require huge amounts of energy and resources, both for powering and cooling their vast infrastructures, not to mention their water use, and the material waste generated by rapid technological obsolescence.
Moreover, while digital technologies promise efficiency and connectivity, their unchecked expansion can intensify resource extraction for electronics and deepen dysfunctional hierarchies, all while posing serious risks to wellbeing and fundamental rights at work.
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It’s not just jargon
A new EU Joint Research Centre report has acknowledged that the terms “twin” and “just” transition have, up to now, largely been a discursive device rather than an overarching framework guiding policy. However, the interplay between the transitions is more than a matter of terminology – it is what dictates regulatory actions, adaptation strategies and practical implementations.
Both the green and digital transitions unfold within a dense web of principles, institutions, and legal regulations. This complexity presents a unique opportunity to examine the way EU policy impacts people in, and beyond, the continent, particularly in light of the socioeconomic risks, policy trade-offs and implications for the future of work.
By drawing on concepts like policy mixes, the EU can ambitiously and simultaneously address workers’ environmental and digital rights, specifically by enshrining them in labour law frameworks.
Protecting and promoting quality jobs is the only way to get EU citizens on side, and regulation can serve as the connective tissue that binds the green and digital transitions. If done right, it could truly modernise work, creating a more just and sustainable future which leaves no one behind.